27th birthday

Today was my 27th birthday and I spent it at my parents watching the Bears first round playoff game and we kicked some Seahawk butt. I can't believe that if we win just 1 more game we are going to the Superbowl. Let's hope the Bears can pull it off! Jared had to work today so we went out last night to a fancy fondue restaurant downtown for my birthday. We had a FABULOUS time, I loved the food, but don't think we will go again. It was expensive and we indulged a little more than usual, and I am honestly still feeling guilty about it.

After the Bears game I went to the Apple store with my brother because he works there and with my birthday money and his discount I ordered a 32g ipod touch! I can't wait to get it! Then we had Giordano's stuffed crust pizza and my mom made me TWO fabulous cakes! One is this amazing lemon cake and the other is what she calls a HO HO cake...both were fantastically fattening...the only way to go. 

So I am looking forward to a great 27th year of my life, I can't believe the changes that have happened since my last birthday.

The best gift of all was spending the whole day with my sweet Luke. He lights up my life. I know I am corny, but I can't help it, the love that I feel for this boy is ridiculous...this morning when he got up I brought him into my bed, which is our normal morning routine and we cuddled for about an hour, then he woke up so happy (as usual) and was smiling and laughing. It was so sweet, the perfect start to my birthday, only thing that would have made it better would have been Jared home with us!

4 MONTHS OLD!!

Luke turned 4 months old on Sunday, and had his 4 month appointment yesterday. He weighed in at 14.8 lbs and was just under 26 inches long! My boy is growing so fast! I can't believe it!

He has been in his crib for over a week now and is doing fantastic! He has been going to bed between 8 or 9 and not waking up till about 2 or 3 and then sleeps till about 7:30 when I bring him into my bed to cuddle for about an hour and he falls back asleep and we get out of bed at about 8:30. Today, he slept till almost 10 in his crib though! I think he was just worn out from the shots yesterday because he slept pretty much all afternoon/evening and slept great at night, only waking up once to eat.

Naps are getting a little better, some days are better than others. He has slept in his crib for most naps and a couple times slept for 3 or more hours!

The doctor told us at his appointment yesterday that he can start cereal anytime now since his head control is so good. We will probably start that next week.

It is crazy how much he has changed over the last 4 months. He is so alert now and he absolutely LOVES his dogs! He loves to watch them, and reaches out and tries to grab Toby. Toby is so good with him, he just sits there and lets him, but then tries to lick in his mouth. Gross. Emma is a little scared of him, she comes around but takes off when she gets nervous.

Luke is smiling ALL the time now and recognizes faces and it just melts my heart when he sees me and gets a huge smile on his face. I love him so much! He has started to roll over and scootch himself kind of like a little worm across his blanket on the floor. He loves to sit up or stand up with the help of mommy and daddy. He started laughing the other day, it was the first time he laughed when I tickled him. He has giggled a little here and there, but this was the first REAL laugh I heard. I started to tear up, I know I am cheesy, but I just can't believe how much I love this little boy.

New Year, New beginnings

So I decided to start a few new things this season, and today I started one of them. I signed up for the work out pass at the Park District to go to as many work out classes each session and today I went to Zumba and holy moly that was a BLAST! I have done Zumba work out videos, but this was a lot more fun in a group setting, great work out, LOVED IT! I have just been working out at home by myself, so it was great to get out for a little bit and work out with other ladies! It was nice to see some familiar faces there too!

In a couple weeks, I am starting MOPS. I have been wanting to join a mom's group for a while, and I have heard great things about MOPS, so I decided to give it a try =) They meet every other week for MOPS, then the weeks they don't meet for MOPS, they have an optional bible study that the moms meet for. This sounds so perfect for me right now, I am so excited!

Jared and I are also hoping to be starting a small group with a couple of other couples from the church we go to Willowcreek, we were supposed to start this sunday, but Jared just informed me that he is covering for someone at work that night =( And then he works the following sunday, so I don't know how this will work out with his crazy work schedule.

Anyway...I am excited about the new adventures I am starting this year! Just thought I'd share =)

Big day for the Luke man!

So today was a big day for Luke! It started off last night when I moved him into his room into his crib. He has been sleeping in his bassinet right next to me for the last 4 months, so this is a big deal, for both of us! He slept like a rock! He went to bed at 9pm, got up at 1:30 to eat, and went back to bed till 8:30!! I was SO proud of him!! =) Then he took a nap in his crib this morning, not a long nap, only about 45 min, but I am hoping he gets better at the nap thing. We are STILL working on that, we got a little thrown off track with the holidays.

Then I have been putting Luke on his tummy more that last few weeks and it has looked like for about a month now that he was about to roll over...BUT his hands were more interesting! Silly boy. Every time he started to tip over he would stop and start looking for his fascinating hands to chew on! So anyways...today he actually rolled over!! It was so cute! I started yelling and clapping and kind of freaked him out and he started crying...poor guy. Hope I didn't scare him from doing it anymore!! Hehe.

I sure love him...he is growing up way too fast!

My sweet Luke

Here are a couple recent pictures of my sweet little Luke. He is just too cute to not share. Love this kid more than life itself. I am so blessed.

He loves nakey time. I LOVE his little tooshy.

What makes my heart smile.

He passed out doing tummy time. He is starting to kind of like sleeping on his tummy.

We put together his jumpy thing, his poor little legs dangle, but he likes it, he plays with the toys and pushes the buttons.

Where did this year go??

Wow, 2011. Where did 2010 go? This year has been such an amazing year, so many blessings, and so many challenges at the same time. I was just reflecting on this last year and things I would change for this coming year. I don't really make "resolutions" just realistic goals. I feel like I just let this year slip through my fingers, I feel like I have slipped away from what makes my heart beat this year. I mean, I have so many blessings and things to be thankful for, but how quickly do I forget to turn to the ONE who gave me these amazing gifts? How quickly do I forget to praise Him and follow after him without abandon? The main thing that I regret this year, is not deepening my relationship with God, I feel like I have been just plain lazy. No good excuses. I want to begin this year RIGHT. I want to lay down my life for the one who gave me life. I want to wake up every morning and praise God for the breath he has given me, and most of all for my family, for a husband who works harder than any man I know, and loves me no matter how crazy I can be sometimes. And this amazing gift that God gave to us, I want to never cease to praise him for this little sweet boy that I have the joy of raising. I want to never forget to turn to Him for guidance in raising Luke. I want Luke to see Jesus in me, and right now, it seems like that is not at all what shines through me.

2011 is a brand new start. I love that his grace is new every morning, because, man, I need it. I need grace in everything I do, most days, I make more wrong choices than right, but how amazing is it that God loves me, even in-spite of the stupid choices I make. Wow, now that is amazing grace...how sweet it is.

Thank you Jesus for a brand new year, and for your grace, because I don't know where I would be with out your unfailing love.
 
Here is a beautiful song that has been on my mind lately.

Your love never fails.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IoezWBPGRAc